TEDDY BEARS and OTHER STUFF by Sue Ann Holcomb

STEAMPUNK!

2011-11-05T13:05:00.000-05:00

Hi, Folks . . . have you gotten on board with the Steampunk genre?
I've been intrigued by it for awhile now and decided to step waaay out of my comfort zone to dabble a bit. While browsing through the craft magazines at Barnes and Noble, I saw the cover of the Sept/Oct issue of Cloth*Paper*Scissors and had to take a closer look. Doll artist Paula Nerhus has created some very cute, interesting steampunk art dolls and gives instructions on how to make them in this issue. I have never worked with clay, so it became a big labor intensive project for me, but finally finished this dolly last night. I already had paint, fabric and many doodads that qualified as steampunk accessories, so all I had to purchase was the paper clay and I was ready to go. Now, if I intend to add dolls to my ever growing list of creative endeavors, I need to establish my own "look". But Ms. Nerhus provided the inspiration to step away from what I'm comfortable with, so thanks, Paula.

Making Bears Again

2011-09-22T23:13:00.000-05:00

Yes, I actually cut out two bears today for a Christmas order. It's been over a year since I made a teddy, so it felt a little strange, and yet familiar, too. Just hope I remember how to put the pieces together . . . in more ways than one.

I Don't Recognize Myself Anymore

2011-08-23T07:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure where I'm going with this post. Think I just need to sort out some puzzling, rather disturbing thoughts I've had going on for quite some time. Keeping these musings to myself has not resulted in any positive action to change who I've become, so maybe going public will help. I've been trying to figure out how to reinvent myself for years . . . anyone have a clue as to how that happens? I was diagnosed with recurrent major depression in 1998 and with the struggles to survive the abysmal black pit of despair that accompanies each meltdown, I've degenerated into a slug zombie. I once was an active, responsible, fairly organized, caring individual who could get things done when called upon. I could cook for my family, keep a neat (maybe not squeaky clean) house, pursue hobbies, and hold down a full-time job outside the home. No more. At age 70, I now can barely manage to get basic necessities taken care of . . . like laundry, grocery shopping, feeding my husband and pets. I'll post again on this subject - or maybe not - but perhaps I've started a new direction in trying to make the time I have left on this earth a little more productive.

I'm Back (at least I think I am)

2011-07-27T21:43:00.001-05:00

My goodness . . . it's been awhile since I've posted here - shame on me. No excuses except that I have soooooo many places to visit when I get on the computer. And I'm head-over-heels involved with an animal sanctuary about a 30 minute drive from my house. International Exotic Animal Sanctuary houses around 70 big cats and bears that have been orphaned, abused, or abandoned . . . wild animals that can't be returned to their natural habitats. A well-run, awesome place to visit and they have daily tours. I love Tassers, the bobcat that I have adopted and go to see him at least once a month. I also make items for their gift store, an activity which brings me endless pleasure. My teddy bear creating has taken a back seat, but I haven't abandoned it altogether. I've made a plush all fours bear that represents Scooter, one of the yearling black bear cubs at IEAS. Will be making another that represents Greta, a close friend of Scooter's and the same age as he. That's all for now, but I will be back soon with photos and more
"stuff" that I've been into.

JUDD Vignette for Sale

2010-07-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Judd and his vintage accessories are for sale from Past Time Bears. He is 9 1/2 inches tall and made from golden tan German mohair. Pads are camel-colored wool felt and eyes are black shoebutton. Judd's nose has been embroidered with perle cotton thread to look old and care-worn, plus he has detailed shading to give him the appearance of a much-loved bear. His accessories include a vintage box, 'aged' by the artist, an antique baby shoe, and an old photograph. Judd is stuffed with tiny steel beads and fiberfill. The set is one-of-kind and sells for $200.00 + shipping.

Comanche for Sale

2010-04-06T16:55:00.000-05:00

Comanche is a hefty all-fours bear made of a beautiful, lush, high quality synthetic beaver. His needle sculpted pads are textured vinyl upholstery fabric and eyes are black glass. Standing up on his hind legs, he is 18" tall. On all fours, he is 16" long and stands 10" high. Comanche sports a collar with a bell. One of a kind. Cost is $290 + shipping.

My apologies for not having a PayPal option at the moment. I will have one eventually. Thanks much for your patience.

Computer Woes and Other Stuff

2010-04-05T19:47:00.001-05:00

Well, I haven't been around for awhile . . . think I am a very lazy blogger. I hope to change that starting now. In my last message, I was having computer problems and I continued to be harrassed by malfunctions until I got the blue screen of death a couple of weeks ago. Long story short, I now have a new computer, but I also lost old software and tons of files that aren't compatible with Microsoft 7. My current website was created back in 1998 with software that doesn't exist anymore, so now there is no way to update it. I had started creating a new website with "WebEasy 7" and had several pages finished and saved. Oh yes, I lost all of it. Grrrrr. The Geek Squad at Best Buy did manage to transfer some of the stuff on my old hard drive to the new one, but I had many, many, many photos of bears I had made from 1997 to now that are gone. sigh And my photo editing software apparently isn't compatible, either, because it won't install. I tried getting support from Microsoft and eMachines for that particular problem, but everyone wants to charge a steep fee for resolving the issue. Rats! So, now I'm thinking maybe I will try featuring a bear or two for sale on my blog. That is, after I figure out how I want to do that. So, folks, check back from time to time . . . the times, they are a-changin'.

Hurray . . . Can Access My Website

2009-12-25T23:07:00.000-06:00

My daughter and son-in-law spent the day with us and what a great time we had!! In addition, it took Scott (SIL) all of about 15 minutes to discover the problem with getting to my website . . . what a guy! So all is cool now that I've been able to quit celebrating Thanksgiving and get to Christmas, which is practically over - better late than never. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Website

2009-12-16T19:31:00.000-06:00

Anybody who has visited my Past Time Bears website will notice that I'm still celebrating Thanksgiving. Actually, I'm aware that we're rapidly approaching our end-of-the-year holidays, but I haven't been able to access my website for about 6 weeks, making it impossible to update. It's been a HUGE headache to try to find the cause . . . I've tried every conceivable way to fix it and still can't find the reason it's blocked from my computer. I've asked computer geniuses for suggestions; gotten all sorts of information/instructions from the internet; changed browsers; checked firewalls; run virus scans; defragged; cleaned the registry; disabled this, that, and the other and nothing has worked. If anybody out there has a magic cure, I would certainly appreciate your input. Obviously, I've overlooked something as I am very near a computer illiterate, so I welcome your thoughts. Thanks, Sue Ann

Happy Holidays to All

2009-12-16T19:08:00.000-06:00

Whatever your religion, or non-religion, I wish for you and yours a warm, joyful, peaceful heart. A heart full of compassion and good will for: old people; young people, middle-agers, and babies; people of different ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds; the physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged; all animals; the beauty of nature; the environment and its problems; your peer group; yourself.

A most prosperous, healthy, and safe 2010 to everyone.

Big hugs, Sue Ann

Yikes!

2009-10-24T14:24:00.003-05:00

Paul and I have been married 45 years today. Some of those years have been really hard but, nevertheless, we plodded on through thick/thin, light/dark, valley/mountain, etc. - and continue to be truly committed to one another. We've mellowed with age and have been able to let go of trivial inconveniences and annoyances to concentrate on more important issues. When you have lots more life behind you than in front, you tend to look at what really matters from a better, more realistic perspective. I kind of think of us as comfortable old houseshoes. (Please feel free to interpret that analogy as you wish.) We've both been retired for years, but have other interests that occupy our time and, hopefully, keep our brains challenged and intact. It's hard work at times to keep a marriage going for 45 years, but ever-so-much worth the effort.

Age Discrimination

2009-10-22T17:55:00.000-05:00

You may want to skip this 'rant' if you aren't of a certain age, but I'm getting a little weary of being told, "We don't take Medicare patients", when looking for help on a potentially serious problem. To explain the situation, I will be revealing personal information, but I choose to be up front with my condition.

I was diagnosed many years ago with recurrent severe depression and take medication that has to be prescribed by a psychiatrist. Sometimes, the medication that works well for awhile, becomes ineffective and a different one will be needed. That has happened once already for me, but now this second med seems to not be doing its job, either. The psychiatrist I was going to dropped me as a patient 3 years ago when I turned 65, but I haven't needed one until now. My husband called over 25 shrinks today and was always told they didn't take Medicare, plus they didn't have any suggestions as to who would. Finally, he was successful after finding a place that essentially is a Mental Health/Mental Retardation agency for senior citizens. Folks, what good is being on Medicare if doctors aren't going to treat people using it? Fortunately, I had been a patient of my Primary Care Physician for eons before I was 65, and he has continued to see me. But there are many who are not as lucky. I went through the same ordeal several years ago when trying to find a therapist that took clients on Medicare. Frankly, the health care system in this country is really depressing.

Finished Calendar

2009-10-16T20:28:00.000-05:00

Finally done with the first of three calendars. Just start at January and flip the board toward the back to change to the next month. When June is over, flip it back to the front to reveal July . . . and so forth and so on.

My Current Project

2009-10-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

Well, finally I have something to report besides the "new blogger woes". Along with my bearmaking, I dabble a bit with altered art and have started my Christmas list gifts. A little late, I might add. I always think I have plenty of time, but what I'm doing now is rather labor intensive. Who doesn't like a calendar to begin the new year . . . especially if it's personalized? My two nieces and a nephew (and their families) will be getting them this Christmas. I found these wonderful calendar kits while surfing my favorite scrapbooking sites and thought they would make terrific gifts. The kit is comprised of six wooden pieces, each 7" by 7". They come with holes already drilled in the top so they may be fastened together after decorating. I have saved photos of my nieces and nephew from the time they were babies through today when all of them are married and have kids of their own. Of course, I have pictures of the spouses and children through the years, also, so have a rich source of memorabilia to choose from. Each family will get a calendar with a selection of 12 different photos representing their particular family members during the last 30+ years. This is just how I chose to make up my calendars, but any theme may be used - your imagination and creativity give endless possibilities. This photo, hopefully, makes it a little easier to understand what I've been rattling on about. The first wooden piece shows how the 6 pieces come in the kit - totally bare. Then you can see how I've decorated three of the months. I will attach all 6 pieces together with the book rings shown on the left. When I'm totally done (I'm on October right now) with my first calendar, I'll put up another photo to show the finished product. Anyhoo, thought some of you who like scrapbooking or altered art projects might like to know about this kit. Hmmmmm. My next thing to learn about blogging is how to make photos bigger. This was much larger when I was editing it, but maybe you can sort of see what I did.

Just Call Me Befuddled

2009-10-12T23:15:00.002-05:00

Can anyone hear me screaming? Yikes, I have spent the last two days trying to understand how this blogging system works and I still don't know what I'm doing! Yeah, I know it would help immensely if I knew something about html but, unfortunately, I don't know diddly-squat. I finally whined for assistance on the 'help forum' and did, indeed, get exactly the correct instructions to do what I wanted. Pffffft . . . it involved editing the html. Now, for the next 101 questions I have. It will take me a month of Sundays to be able to make the changes I want and figure out how to add stuff, but guess it's good exercise for my battered brain. Okay, folks, hopefully I will get a little more entertaining, informative, worthwhile, etc., chatter going here. Even some pretty pictures, if I'm lucky. Catch ya later.

A Newbie Here

2009-10-10T19:32:00.000-05:00

Hi, all. Blogging is a new experience for me . . . just getting started. I've never thought anyone except maybe a few family members would be at all interested in what's going on in my life. Especially since I'm old as dirt and live a relatively quiet existence. As the title of my blog implies, teddy bears are a large part of what I do these days since I create them from scratch using my own original designs. Have been doing this since 1997, so it appears that I really like this activity. I've also participated in many teddy bear shows since then and have won a few awards along the way. Well, so much for what I do.